Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Mating ❯ Into the Makai ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

"The Mating"

NC-17

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

AN: Okay, I'm putting on my fanfiction authoress liberties now. I am terribly sorry if I manage to go outside cannon here, but some of this I know only through screen shots that I've seen and other fanfictions that I've read as I haven't seen the fourth arc and am only mostly through the third arc, so I'm apologizing in advance for my version of the Makai if it's different from what anyone has seen.

Okay, just to clear up some confusion in my story. The question of whether there are two people inside Kurama. sorry if it's taken me a little longer to get back to this question. I'm going to quickly compare the subtitled(Japanese), Manga, and the dubbed. The Manga and the subtitled both agree, sorry folks, one soul in the body, volume three of the Manga definitively answers that. As for the battles during the Dark Tournament, namely Ura Urishima and Karasu battles, all I can say is try watching the DVD's, have the english dubbed with the Japanese subtitles, two totally different things getting said there. It repeatedly mentions two bodies, but not two souls. I also enjoy the whole Shuuichi/Youko thing, but I prefer to write Kurama. Now on with the fic!

Chapter 6: Into the Makai

Kurama woke early in the morning. The sun was up, but not by much. Perfect timing. He thought to himself. Keiko still slumbered on top of him, her face nestled into his neck. He hated to wake her, yesterday had so much excitement to it and today promised to be more of the same. However nothing could be put off. He glanced at the clock by his bed, just past six. He shook his mate's shoulder carefully. "Keiko."

Keiko sleepily opened her eyes and lifted her head from the red mass that was her mate's hair. "Good morning. What time is it?" She asked as she yawned.

"Good morning to you, too." Kurama grinned at her. "It's just past six a.m. now. And I would suggest you move unless we want to do more of the same that we did last night, which I hate to say it, we don't really have time for. Not on top of a trip to the Makai and be back by one in the afternoon."

Keiko reluctantly nodded and rolled off, twisting as she did so and landed on her feet. Only feeling a slight twinge between her thighs. She turned to see Kurama looking at her in shock. "What?"

Kurama shook his head to clear it. "Do you realize what you just did? When did you get so agile?" He looked at her mating mark briefly and smiled to see that it was definately clearer this morning. Most people who had any spirit awareness at all could see it now.

Keiko frowned, realizing what she had done. "I don't know. How did I do that?"

"I don't know either. We'll wait and see what happens." Kurama bent and kissed her quickly in reassurance. "Now, my love we must get dressed." He pulled out a pair of pants and a shirt that matched perfectly and quickly pulled out a fresh pair of underwear and socks. Putting the previous days things in the hamper.

Keiko wrinkled her nose at her own less-then-fresh clothing from the previous day. "Ah, well, that's what I get for not planning ahead!" Then she remembered something and dove for her bookbag. She pulled out some clean gym clothes. "I had put these in there for Monday, but I think they're better put to use now."

"Yes, the skirt and blouse you were wearing yesterday would not have served you well in the Makai, I'm afraid." Kurama put the afore mentioned articles in the hamper with his.

Keiko reluctantly put back on the underwear and bra that she had worn the previous day, but put on the clean socks, shorts and a T-shirt. "How do I look?"

Kurama smiled predatorily eyeing the very short shorts and how they emphasized her long legs. "Do you want an answer to that?"

Keiko saw the smile and rightfully guessed where his thoughts had gone. She sighed, wishing they were not on such a tight schedule. "Not right now. But never-the-less, the question still stands. Do I look up to facing the Makai?" Keiko smiled.

"Yes, you do." Kurama assured her. He mentally noted to get her some clothing while they were there, too. "Shall we go ask my mother if she will accompany us?"

Keiko nodded. "She's important to you and she's a wonderful person. She deserves to know who she raised to be such a loving person."

"Well, then, let's go see if she's up or if we'll have to wake her." He decided to test their bond and see if it worked in the same way for her that it worked for him. "Why don't you go check the kitchen and I'll check upstairs?"

Keiko nodded at once. "Sure." She only felt a small reluctance to leave his side this morning, as opposed to the nearly overwheltming one yesterday evening. She quickly went down to the kitchen. She could somehow tell where he was in the house and just being in the same building together brought her comfort. She entered the kitchen and it was empty. "Shiori?" She called out. The front door opened and Shiori entered, carrying a small bouquet of flowers, covered with morning dew.

Shiori smiled at her, "Hello, the two of you are up early! What has you two up and about?"

Kurama appeared at the top of the stairs. "Greetings, Mother. Let me arrange those for you." Kurama smelled the flowers, pleased to notice the dew scent still clinging to their leaves. He fed them a very small amount of youki and their blooms turned more vibrant and fragrant.

Shiori looked impressed. "How did you do that, son?"

"All youkai possess magic of some sort or other. My talent lies with plants." Kurama took down a vase and added water, placing the cut blooms in and arranging them in a pleasing manner. "They can become works of art or deadly weapons. We are going to get Keiko an engagement ring this morning, but I do not want one from the mall or such. I want a one of a kind ring such as a master craftsman can make. If I wanted such a symbol in the Makai, I would just make one out of plants that would never fade, but to be convincing for Hatanaka-san and Keiko's parents, we need one made of gold, or something similar." He explained, then looked at her most seriously, "Would you like to accompany us to the Makai? We promise to be back before Shuuichi and my stepfather get back." He saw her hesitate. "Just in case, we can leave a note stating that we went to the Mall or something. Which we are, just not a human mall. I want you to see the world that I lived in for so long. You will never understand just how much you have done for me. I will have to transform for this trip as well."

Shiori thought about it. "Who all would be going?" She asked.

Kurama thought for a moment. "You, Keiko, myself and if I can manage it, Hiei. He's a valuable person. And as much as I trust in my abilities, it's always best to have someone to guard your back in the Makai." He put the vase in the center of the table. "There!" He sent a mental message to Hiei, ~Want to come on a short trip to the Makai with me?~

~Fox, why are you going to the Makai?~ Came the reply.

~I need a human style engagement ring for Keiko's family and my stepfather, but I want something special. I have a specific craftsman in mind, he lives in Gandistra.~

~Sometimes I think you need a keeper, Fox. Who are you taking? That's the most stable city in the Makai, but that's still not saying much.~

~I was going to take Keiko and Mother. With you along as well it should be plenty safe. We'll drop by one of my lairs on the way and then on to Gandistra.~ Kurama quickly relayed his plans.

~I suppose that you have a lair close to Gandistra?~

~Well, it was my base of operations.~ Kurama pointed out.

~Hn.~ There was a pause. ~I'll be there. Have you recovered enough youki to transform into your youko form?~

Kurama took stock. ~Yes, many thanks for preparing that dish last night.~

~Hn. You're welcome. I'll come over now.~ Hiei stated, breaking off the connection.

Kurama turned to Keiko and Shiori. "Hiei will be coming with us. He should be here momentarily."

"But what did you do?" Shiori asked.

"I contacted him through telepathy." Kurama explained, then continued, "I've always had it, but rarely used it, except to track down Hiei. He can block me if he wants to, though, as well. It's kind of like using a phone." There was a knock on the front door, which Kurama promptly answered.

Hiei looked at the two women. "Hn. I assume you told these two everything, kitsune?"

"I had to, Hiei." He looked at his mother who was writing the aforementioned note, "But she accepted me anyway."

"I'm glad for you." Hiei felt a pang in his heart from loneliness.

"You can hide your feelings from everyone else, Hiei, but not me. I know you too well." Kurama made his one stab at the smaller demon's stubbornness, but then switched subjects, "This is getting us nowhere, however. Are we going to open the portal, or did you contact Botan?"

Hiei examined Kurama's power level, while it was slightly lower than normal, it was very close. "We should be more than sufficient. Did you just explain about the Makai, then?"

Kurama nodded. "We do not have leave to speak of the other as of yet." Kurama saw the look that his mother was giving them, curiosity bordering on worry. Keiko was waiting patiently, smelling the flowers, but no doubt hearing every word and saving questions up for later.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Hiei asked, then flitted outside.

Kurama smiled at his mother and his mate. "Come, before Hiei gets any more impatient than he already is." The three put on their shoes before they went out the door.

Hiei kept watch from the tree tops that he loved to perch on. He kept a little ways ahead of the fox and knew that Kurama was headed for the park that was the Tantei's normal rendevous point. There was one of the natural occuring portals there that only needed a small push to open. He usually guarded it since it was so easy to open, though they had all ended up with the duty at one time or another. Fortunately, the park was normally deserted.

It was only a short walk from Kurama's house to the park. Hiei scanned the park with his Jagan. Good, no one's here. Hiei flitted down from the tree top and waited for Kurama. He settled down on a low tree branch.

The three walked into the park, so far the only ones they had seen were some early morning joggers. The three walked in silence until they entered the park. "Is this where the portal is?" Shiori asked.

Kurama nodded as he looked back, "Why do you think this park has such a bad reputation?"

Keiko just nodded. "For the most part, demons are not the most friendly creatures in the world. Though on the inside, not really all that different from humans. They come in all sizes, shapes, and personalities."

Hiei flitted down from the tree, "Hn. Though most demons would happily kill any ningens as soon as look at them."

Shiori looked at her son in shock. "And you want to take Keiko and I to the world of demons?"

"Do not let it worry you. The two of you shall be protected." Kurama assured his mother.

"Hn." Hiei looked at Shiori. "Keiko shall be her mate's responsibility, as it should be. You shall be mine. You are the only true ningen here. Keiko has not been a true ningen since Kurama mated with her. And besides, any demon stupid enough to take the two of us on deserves what they get."

Shiori didn't know what to make of that, but decided that she'd find out a little more later. After all, she couldn't learn that much history in a single situation. "So, where is this portal?"

Hiei just turned and slowly walked away. "You might want to change now." He turned to Kurama, "There are none but us four in the park."

Kurama only nodded. He reached inside himself and changed back into his youko form. Gone were the human clothes and in place where his white pants and loose fitting wrap around sleeveless shirt. He looked down at her from his now seven foot height. "Hello, Mother."

Shiori came over and took in the change that her son had undergone. From head to toe, he was completely different, though through his now golden eyes, she could see the same soul looking out at her that had looked at her through her son's green eyes. "Shuu-, no, Kurama, is this what you really look like?" She reached up with a trembling hand to cup her son's cheek. Her eyes went curiously to the pointed, furry ears on top of his head, but restrained her curiousity.

Kurama nodded. He saw his mother's glance at his ears, they were the most sensitive part on his youko body, only one's mate had to right to touch them. He wrapped his tail around Keiko's waist. "Yes, Mother, this is my true form." He then added, "You shall be protected." He said in his no-nonsense tone, speaking to the both of them. He pulled Keiko in so she was resting against his side and pulled his mother in for a brief hug. "No wandering off by yourself, plants, insects and anything else that you see can be deadly. The only place that we can truly relax once we pass through the portal, which Hiei is in the process of opening, is my lair. And that's because the perimeter is protected."

"Hn." Hiei agreed. "Many have died trying to break through Youko Kurama's defenses. You are either invited, or you die." He added in a toneless voice. "The portal is open, come."

The four stepped through the portal, Hiei allowing it to close behind them. Kurama said, "No point in leaving the door open." He took a good look around.

Keiko and Shiori were stunned. Neither had been here before. They found themselves in a lush forest, completely untouched by time or pollution. The trees weren't quite normal, but seemed healthy. They saw a couple of what looked like really wierd birds fly overhead. The forest was teeming with life.

Kurama touched the base of his neck, making sure that he could reach any of his seeds by feel at a moments notice. "Everyone, keep alert. Hiei."

Hiei didn't even nod, he just took to the trees, scouting ahead. The others following at a slower pace.

Shiori blinked with how fast Hiei moved. "Are you sure you're not over stating the situation?"

Keiko shook her head, remembering the dark tournament. "Remind me to tell you about a few memories of my own that I have."

Kurama agreed, "You can never be too careful here. Admittedly, Hiei and I are definately towards the top of the food chain here, but there are still those who try to take us on." He looked around at the trees, "Even peace can be deceptive here."

Shiori took another look around. Everything seemed to suggest another quiet morning. "If this place is that bad, I haven't seen any signs of it yet."

Kurama bent down and picked up a small stick, throwing it at a very large flower, which bit the stick in two. Shiori paled.

Keiko frowned looking at it. "Isn't that the one that you tried against Karasu?" She felt him shudder against her and gave him an impulsive hug. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."

Kurama smiled down at her as he hugged her back. "Don't worry, it's just the rest of us try not to think about that particular tournament that we were in."

All of a sudden from above them, they heard a yelled, "Oy! Then I suppose y' don't be thinkin' about us neither?" There was a floating red-head with a horn in the middle of the head.

Touya materialized from behind a tree and greeted him with a small smile. "And what brings the infamous Youko Kurama to these parts?"

Kurama released his hold on Keiko to hold out at hand to them. "Jin, Touya, what brings you to these parts? It's well known that I lived here, but your group is based out of Yusuke's territory."

Touya only nodded taking the proferred hand. "A group of bandits was heading this way and we've been hired to track them. If they cause any damage, then we're to take care of them." He took notice of who was travelling with Kurama. "Isn't that Urameshi's girl? And who's the other woman?"

Kurama stiffened at the label put on Keiko and Touya instantly knew that he'd made a mistake. "This woman is my mate. And you shall address her accordingly." He held Touya's eyes until the other two got the message. This was said in a tone colder than Shiori had ever heard come out of her son before, then his voice took on a more normal tone. "The other woman is my human mother, Shiori."

Touya bowed low in an attempt to appease Kurama's ruffled fur, then noticed the mating mark peeking out from under the shirt that Kurama wore. "It must have happened very recently, then, congratulations." Then turned to Shiori. "I should thank you. It is only due to the mercy that you taught him that I am still alive now."

Shiori looked at him in surprise. "How is it that you are grateful to me? I don't know you, do I?"

"No, but I have fought your son. We had no choice at the time and used our wits just as much as actual attacks." Touya looked at his previous enemy, now ally. "Just before I passed out I asked him to kill me and he refused, saying that anyone can change if he could." He bowed to Shiori, "I owe you a debt, if I can ever repay it, please do not hesitate to call."

Shiori was floored by this talk and looked from her son to this stranger and back again. "Thank you." The two were civil, but without the close bond that her son shared with Hiei. She shook her head, trying to comprehend this discussion. Keiko seemed to be following it. She would have to ask her daughter-in-law about what happened.

Jin just laughed. "Wait'll I see Urameshi! I'll have to be tellin' 'im about this!" He turned to Touya, "Let's be leavin', partner o' mine! We're havin' us some villains to track!"

Keiko spoke up at this. I can't let Yusuke find out this way! , "Wait, Jin!"

"Wha' is it, lass?" Jin asked.

"Please," Keiko requested, "Don't tell Yusuke. I wanted to be the one to inform him of this."

Jin nodded, "Ah, sure, lass. If tha' is what you want, then I won't be breathin' a word."

Touya also nodded, "Well, then, we shall respect your wishes, mate of Kurama. Come on, partner. By this time those villains must be miles from here."

Hiei appeared and said, "They're five miles west, I think they're going to try to enter Gandistra, that or be really suicidal."

Touya said, "It sounds like this will wrap up quickly. Why don't we all meet up in Gandistra later?"

Kurama added, "Certainly. It's our destination anyway after a small detour to my lair."

"See you in Gandistra later then." Touya said as he melted back into the trees. Jin dissappeared into the sky.

"Hn." Hiei said by way of parting. "We should hurry up, I don't think that those two could break into your lair, but I don't know how far they can be trusted. I spotted that group of bandits, though. The entire group looked pathetic."

"In which case, could they be a detour while a more dangerous group tries something?" Kurama thought back to his days of planning.

Hiei was trained as Mukuro's general, he knew a feint when he saw one. "Entirely possible. We shall be cautious."

They made it almost all the way to Youko's old lair when the ambush was set off.

Instantly, Kurama had his rose whip out and scanned the demons that thought they had him surrounded. He had been surpressing the more carniverous vegitation for the last mile. Hiei dropped from a tree top to join Kurama, knowing that to be outside the kitsunes' sight he would probably end up plant food, or at least have problems with the plants while he defended himself.

"Well, well," What appeared to be the head demon of this pack said, "Lookie here, boys. What did we catch in our net?"

Hiei glared at the leader. "I wouldn't call us caught, baka."

Shiori worried about this. Hiei and her son could reassure her all they wanted, but this group numbered thirty demons and they looked like a rough bunch. She looked at Keiko. Why is she not worried? She looked between the short demon and the leader of the group who was at least twice the size of Hiei.

Keiko looked at these demons. She could tell for a fact that all of the one's in this group were low level demons. She didn't know how she knew this, but these were nothing to be worried about. These were on par with the group that had been intimidated by Shizuru at the dark tournament. Idiots. She looked at her mate and his friend. She could sense their power levels now and they were awe-inspiring. It was as if a torch was placed next to a raging forest fire.

"I would call you caught, though! Surrounded!" The stupid demon replied to Hiei's taunt.

"Fox, I want the stupid one." Hiei replied with an evil grin. "You can take the others."

Kurama sighed, but knew a losing battle when he saw one. "Very well." He started to control one of the death trees in the area, making sure to suppress the other plants still. The first priority was to protect his mate and his mother.

Shiori heard the two briefly discuss what to do and was concerned to say the least. She knew the smaller demon's speed, but didn't know anything about his abilities other than that. She did wonder where her son had gotten the green barbed whip from and decided to ask him later. Seconds later she saw Hiei had a katana in his hand and wondered where that came from too, untill he removed his cape in one swipe so that it wouldn't hinder him and saw the sheath at the small of his back. Her eyes widened as she realized that he probably always went armed.

Keiko heard the two softly talking and smiled. She knew that the demons that surrounded them were as good as dead. She glanced over at Shiori and tried to reassure the older woman. "Don't worry, this bunch is nowhere near as strong as Kurama or Hiei. Either one could easily defeat this bunch." Keiko saw a javelin getting thrown at her and instinctively grabbed Shiori and jumped out of the way, dodging it nimbly. "This keeps up and I'm going to have to start a journal cataloging all these things that I can do." She muttered to herself, never knowing that she had the strength to pick up Shiori.

Kurama was momentarily distracted by the manuver, but focused on the demons, mentally filing Teach Keiko , at the top of his list. He brought in his Death Tree and had that demolishing the demons in back of him. He heard their cries, but didn't let it bother him. They threatened my mate! His rose whip cut into the demons in front of him as he noticed a black blur that was darting in and out, slicing the demons in half as effectively as he was.

All in all, it was a very short fight. Kurama could feel the satisfaction oozing from the Death Tree and suppressed it once again. He also put away his rose whip, forcing it back into the seed that he always had on him and tucked it back into his hair.

Hiei came over and put back on his cape. "Hn. This bunch was pathetic." He turned to Keiko, "You did well."

Keiko was taken aback. "What did I do? All I did was dodge that javelin!"

"It is more than you would have been able to do yesterday morning." Was all he added.

Kurama smiled at his mate, "It's true, you know. We'll have to start training you soon."

Keiko sighed. "Very well, but let's get to your lair, Kurama." All of a sudden her stomach growled, causing her face to flush. "Is there any chance of breakfast?"

Shiori came out of her shock after the breif battle. She shook her head, trying to comprehend what had happened. Seeing that the four of them were the only one's left standing was a bit of a shock. "Even if these were demons, did they all have to die?" She never realized that she spoke the words out loud.

Kurama simply nodded, and answered her, very serious, "Yes, here it is very much a kill or be killed world. In the cities you have a thin veneer of civilization overlapping what is the only constant here. People back in the Ningenkai speak of dog eat dog. Here it's even more true. There are many different types of power and one must understand exactly how each works. Bandits on the road mean nothing. They are too stupid or too headstrong to learn them and end up dead by picking on the wrong person. We are nearly to my home here, let us continue on and I'll explain while I'm working on breakfast."

Hiei dissappeared again, only to reappear at Kurama's side when they reached the entrance, carrying what looked like two rabbits.

It was a cave, with the entrance being that of a tree that Kurama parted, and then after they were all through, closed up again. Kurama reached out and reactivated all of his defenses outside. There was moss on the walls that gave off a soft glow when the opening closed up. Kurama gave another small burst of ki and small flowers opened in the moss, giving off more light. "Much better. Now to see how this place has faired for the last twenty years." He visibly relaxed and motioned, "Come." He said as he led them deeper into his home.

To be continued . . .